Broadcasters pay tribute after death of weather presenter Dianne Oxberry

Tributes have been paid to BBC weather presenter Dianne Oxberry following the death of the 51-year-old, just weeks after she was last on-air.

The mother-of-two, who had been suffering from cancer, died at Manchester’s Christie Hospital on Thursday.

The BBC said Oxberry died after a “short illness” and said the “very sad news has come as a huge shock to everyone at the BBC in the North West”.

Broadcasters Dan Walker, Simon Mayo and Jane Garvey were among those who paid tribute to the “amazing” Oxberry.

The mother of two young children, she worked alongside Simon Mayo and Steve Wright on Radio 1 before moving to North West Tonight in 1994.

A clip of BBC North West’s “favourite moments” of the weather presenter shows Oxberry getting a hug from comic Peter Kay after he interrupts her broadcast and tells her: “You’ve made it sunshine, for everybody.”

She remained with North West Tonight until her death and was last on-air in mid-December.

Oxberry’s husband, Ian Hindle, said she was an “amazing wife and mother who embraced life to the full.

“She was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her but also to the people who watched and welcomed her into their homes each night as if she were part of their family too.”

He said: “She will leave a massive void in our lives but, because of the remarkable person she was, she will forever live on in our hearts. The children and I will miss her more than anyone can imagine.”

BBC Breakfast host Walker wrote on Twitter: “This is incredibly sad. What an amazing woman Dianne was and such a professional broadcaster. Devastating news for her family. Heartbreaking.

“What a special person Dianne Oxberry was. I was privileged enough to work with her on @BBCNWT and she was as loved and admired in the office as she was by the viewers. Whenever you were on location everyone would tell you how much they enjoyed watching Dianne. Such sad news.”

Woman’s Hour host Garvey wrote: “Dianne was a formidable voice for women at the BBC, a fantastically supportive colleague. Thank you for speaking up #BBCWomen”.

Mayo wrote: “Devastated to hear this news. She was a wonderful, joyous part of our breakfast team at Radio 1. I loved working with her. My condolences to her family.”

Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read wrote: “Shocked to hear about Dianne Oxberry who I remember fondly from Radio One working with Steve Wright and Simon Mayo. Very sad news to start the day.”

Oxberry, who lived in Greater Manchester, also fronted regional current affairs show Inside Out North West.

The Sunderland-born broadcaster joined North West Tonight after studying at the Met Office College.

She also presented programmes on BBC Radio Manchester, including the Breakfast Show.

North West Tonight presenter Roger Johnson said: “We are heartbroken by Dianne’s death. It is almost impossible to comprehend. Dianne was North West Tonight. It’s hard to imagine the programme without her.

“Our thoughts are with Ian and all of Dianne’s family. We hope they will find some comfort in the knowledge so many people loved Dianne and will miss her terribly.”

Annabel Tiffin, another presenter of the programme, said: “This is an enormous shock for all of us. I can scarcely believe Dianne has died. She was loved by our viewers, by all of us at North West Tonight. My heart breaks for her family.

“Di was so talented, so beautiful, so funny and so full of life. On screen she was a star, radiating warmth and good humour. Off screen, she was a wonderful colleague, a loyal friend, and I will miss her terribly.”

Jennie McAlpine‏, who plays Fiz in Manchester-based soap Coronation Street, wrote on Twitter: “So sorry to hear this. All love to Dianne’s family.”

Helen Thomas, director of BBC England, said Oxberry had a “remarkable career” and added: “She was a brilliant weather presenter, showed she could do serious journalism with Inside Out and could do the lighter end of broadcasting brilliantly whenever it was needed.

“Above all she was a lovely woman whose sudden and shocking death has robbed the BBC of one of our brightest stars. I’m thinking of all her family and friends at this awful time.”